Category Archives: Dirt Racing

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – October 23, 2015 – Jimmy Phelps, coming off a 358 Modified victory in the Salute to the Troops 150 during NAPA Super DIRT Week at the Syracuse Fairgrounds, was back for more Friday at Weedsport Speedway’s ‘Last Call at the Port’ Bud Light 125.

Phelps prevailed in a stop-and-start grueling affair that lasted over and hour and required 16 cautions and a red flag. Along the way, he turned many a contested lap racing with Larry Wight, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward and 358-Modified Series title contender Chris Raabe.

He took the lead for the first time on lap 78 after going wheel-to-wheel with Wight and Sheppard only to have the pass nullified by the tenth caution of the night.

Phelps finally eluded Sheppard with four laps remaining while Wight faded slightly and was pressured by Mat Williamson. Farther back, Bernard was content to hold his ground and settle for eighth, sufficient to secure the 358 Modified Series championship.

When Sheppard weighed in too light during post-race inspection, Wight became the official runner-up with Williamson (from 30th on the grid) third, Ryan Susice fourth and Danny Johnson fifth.

Raabe, the series point leader at the start of the race and David Hebert – two points back and seven ahead of Bernard, were both slowed with tire and wheel problems by the halfway point.

Bernard rose as high as sixth, but he got more conservative once his closest rivals fell out of contention.

“The track was pretty rough,” Bernard said. “When you have a chance to win a championship in a series that has been going on all season, you don’t want to lose control. I decided to make sure I could finish the race.”

GEORGETOWN, DE – A First State facility rich in history will live to see another year of auto racing.

On Tuesday, Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC signed a lease agreement with Seacoast Investments LLC to operate Georgetown Speedway in 2016 with a second-year option in place for 2017. A limited schedule of unique and special events will take place next season at the storied half-mile clay oval located just off the heavily traveled Route 113 corridor.

“There is a tremendous amount of support in Delaware for Georgetown Speedway,” Deyo said of the opportunity. “When Laura (Schafer, who had been leasing the speedway) made it known she was not going to renew her lease, the wheels started turning this past August. A number of people in the local business community have stepped up to make this possible.”

During the last two years, Deyo and driver/racing businessman Eric Kormann have partnered to present the ‘Blast at the Beach’ midweek event at Georgetown. Both events were highly successful and drew large crowds and solid car counts with competitors from several surrounding states.

“I always respected the history of Georgetown, and definitely fell in love with the track after Eric led me down to promote our first race there in 2014,” Deyo said. “It’s an honor to have this opportunity to be part of the Georgetown legacy.”

The third annual ‘Blast at the Beach’ will of course be among the ’16 schedule highlights, again as a partnership with Kormann featuring the South Region of the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek. Kormann, who came on board with Schafer during the summer stretch last year, will again play a key role at Georgetown next season.

A number of different divisions are being looked at for the ’16 agenda. Scheduling will be done in conjunction with area speedways, namely neighboring Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., to avoid conflicts and ensure maximum participation and attendance.

“We will be working closely with Charlie Cathell (Delaware International owner and promoter) and his family for the betterment of racing in Delaware as a whole,” Deyo said.

“The plan is to bring a variety of different classes to the track and make each event something special and different.”

Due to the speedway’s southern location, an early season March event is already in the planning stages. Deyo hopes to be able to kick off the ’16 dirt Modified season in the Northeast at Georgetown.

Local businesses looking to get involved either as marketing partners or to enable facility improvements are urged to contact Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail: bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. A complete website and social media overhaul is expected during the off-season.

“So far, the commitments from people in the area with businesses has been very encouraging,” Deyo said. “I am hoping the racing community can rally around Georgetown and keep the track thriving into the future.”

A general clean-up of the facility is planned with other projects pending as funding and time permit. Other news regarding the Georgetown ’16 season will be forthcoming.

Deyo will continue to organize the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek North and South regions in 2016. Scheduling is in the works for the series and will be released by early December.

Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1950, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.

BREWERTON, N.Y. – Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 – The Super DIRTcar Series (SDS) Big-Block Modified McDonald’s 100 was rained out Friday at Brewerton Speedway and has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 22.

The revamped Brewerton schedule creates a rousing four-day finish to the 2015 dirt track season in central New York on the heels of NAPA Super DIRT Week’s Finale at the Fairgrounds.

Thursday’s SDS event at Brewerton will lead into “Last Call at the Port” weekend at Weedsport Speedway which commences with the decisive $7,500-to-win, 125-lap DIRTcar NE 358 Modified Series event Friday, October 23 accompanied by Big-Block Modified time trials for Saturday’s $20,000-to-win All Ways 150.

Racing begins at 7 p.m.on Friday. First race Saturday – 6 p.m.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars – “The Greatest Show on Dirt” will close out ‘Last Call at the Port’ weekend in memorable style Sunday, October 25. Time trials for the $10,000-to-win 30-lap event will begin at 4 p.m.